Improvement in looms



UNITED STATES PATENT EEICEo ORRANGE B. HUBBABD, OF LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOB TO HIM- SELF, LYMAN S. SMITH, AND LUCAS I. MGMASTERS, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN LOOMS.

Specification forming part ot" Lettcrs Patent NO. 16.971, dated March 2l, 1865.

To all whom it 71mg/ concern;

Beit known that I, ORRANGE B. HUBBARD, ot' Lowell, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Looms; and I hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, which forms a part of this specification.

The drawing shows a longitudinal section of that part of a loom to which my improvement is applied-viz., one end of the lay-showing the sill or beam A; B, the sword, O, back of the shuttle-box; D, head block; E, pickerstaft and its support F, upon which it swings; H, the adjustable spring, and I I the clasp which is placed on the picker-statt' E, directly beneath the lay, and provided with a set screw, J, so that it can be slid up or down upon the same when desired. rIhe adjustable spring H is held in the slot K of the clasp I I, and is adjusted therein by means of the set-screws M and N and block L, so as to increase or lessen the distance ofthe free end of the spring from the picker-start, and thereby increase or diminish its force on the statt' when its end is against the head-block, and regulate the distance of the recoil of the stai. I employ a piece of leather, O, at or near the top end of the picker-statt' E, for the point of the shuttle to strike against. When the shuttle strikes against the picker O, the top end ofthe spring Il rests against the head-block D, so that when the shuttle comes against the statt' the sprin g will allow it to yield to the sudden blow of the shuttle, and thereby prevent it from injuring the picker O or the picker-sta E to a great extent, and also preventing the upsetting and tangling of the yarn.

In the ordinary loom the picker-staff rests against a metallichead-blo'ck, and sometimes hard rubber is used between the head-block and the picker staff to ease the blow of the shuttle; but this I consider too unyielding to be of service. The action of the shuttle soon destroys the picker, and sometimes forces the leather of which the picker is composed into the'picker-statt, thus splitting or tearing ottl the substance of the picker sta, thus rendering it necessary that it should be replaced before it is otherwise much worn; and, moreover, this sudden blow of the shuttle, by coming in Contact with an unyielding statt', has a tendency to upset and tangle the yarn or lling on the bobbin, so that it will not run ott' from the bobbin and has to be thrown out as waste, thereby eausin g a great loss of valuable material.

In my improvem'ent the adjustable spring H is made to exert a greater or less resistance to the blow of the shuttle by means ofthe setscrews M and N, and yields to the blow of the shuttle, and thereby obviates the difficulties caused by the action of the shuttle on the unyielding staff as used in ordinary looms.

By reason of the simplicity, cheapness, and eliioiency of my improvement, it will be ot' great value to those using the ordinary loom, and may be applied to looms of a complicated nature.

I am aware that hard rubber has been used to ease the blow of the shuttle, and that several combinations of devices are in use for taking up or arresting the sudden blow of the shuttle against the picker. (See patent granted to Jos. Welch, October 3, 1854, and to Joseph Welch, January 9, 1855, and to Barton H. Jenks, April 3, 1855.) I do not claim any of these combinations of devices, nor do I claim the hard rubber to ease the blow of the shuttle; but

What I do claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination and arrangement of the adjustable spring H, the clasp I I, and pickerstai' E, substantially as herein specified, and for the purpose set forth.

2. The method of adjusting the spring H, substantially as herein set forth, and for the purpose specified.

OBRANGE B. HUBBARD.

Witnesses:

J oHN E. CRANE, O. M. Hreerns. 

